Logitech partners with iFixit to advance circularity goals

Lausanne, Switzerland-based consumer technology company Logitech International, which also has North American headquarters in Newark, California, has announced a partnership with San Luis Obispo, California-based iFixit, a global repair community that sells replacement parts and provides toolkits and repair guides for consumer electronics devices.

Logitech says it is working with iFixit to facilitate the availability of spare parts, support beyond-warranty repair on select products and develop relevant repair guides to support this repair.

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“Consumers often struggle to find avenues to repair and extend the life of their product,” Logitech Chief Operating Officer Prakash Arunkundrum says. “More can be done by brands and by broader value chains who wish to play an active role in the shift to a more circular economy. I am excited that we are able to collaborate with iFixit to develop better designs and make it easier for consumers to have a self-repair option to extend the life of our products.”

Electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) is projected to grow to more than 75 million metric tons by 2030, according to The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 Report. Logitech says the growing e-waste challenge is fueled by higher consumption rates, short life cycles and few repair options, and is working to address this challenge by elevating its repair capabilities to increase the lifespan of Logitech devices, design for sustainability and drive more circular business models.

The company adds that designing for sustainability is essential to its product development process and plays an important role in informing design decisions, including those around repairability, refurbishment and recycling.

“Making spare parts available and designing more repairable devices are the best things manufacturers can do to make their products sustainable,” iFixit Director of Sustainability Elizabeth Chamberlain says. “We’ve been working with Logitech to develop designs that make it easier for people to fix their stuff. And now, we’re thrilled by the opportunity to help get Logitech repair parts to people around the world. To give a healthy planet to the next generation, we need to keep our things working for as long as possible, reduce our demand for raw materials and cut down the amount of e-waste we’re generating. It’s wonderful to see Logitech working towards those goals, and we’re beyond happy to do what we can to help.”

The iFixit Logitech Repair Hub will be the source for genuine replacement parts and batteries for the chosen launch products of Logitech MX Master and MX Anywhere mouse models, the companies say. Parts will be available as standalone or in “Fix Kits” that contain everything needed to complete a repair such as the replacement part, tools and a precision bit set. Logitech replacement parts for these devices will become available for purchase in the U.S. starting this summer.

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Logitech says it is taking action and investing in ways to innovate by designing for sustainability and developing circular models that reduce waste and extend life, such as trade-in and refurbishment programs, and also using recycled materials. Recently, the company accelerated its climate action strategy and has set itself on a path to be climate positive beyond 2030 by capturing more carbon than it creates. It claims it is also the first consumer electronics company to commit to providing detailed carbon impact labeling on product packaging and online across the entire portfolio.